PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Azazel Reckridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Reckridge
vs
Knight

155 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Azazel Reckridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shawn Knight!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reckridge clinches.
Reckridge has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Knight is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Knight can't break the clinch.
Reckridge tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Knight just stands there and leans against the cage.
Reckridge wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azazel Reckridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight working hard to break the clinch.

Reckridge pulls guard effortlessly.
Reckridge is trying to keep Knight in close.
Knight in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Reckridge uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Knight scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Azazel Reckridge has been cut.
Knight misses with a few strikes there.
Knight misses with a combination

and Reckridge counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Knight!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reckridge unloading with bombs!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Knight squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Knight in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Reckridge looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Knight takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Knight wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Knight really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Reckridge tries to control but Knight wriggling away.
Reckridge takes Knight's back.
Good control from Reckridge.

Reckridge is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reckridge is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knight is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Knight looks gassed!
Reckridge tries to get the hooks in deep but Knight pushed the leg off.
Knight wants to get back to his feet.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Knight defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Reckridge's arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What can Knight do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Knight is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Knight showing good submission defense here.
Reckridge scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Knight is looking for a way out.
Reckridge trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Knight doesn't escape.
Knight is trying to get back to his feet but Reckridge has full control of the position and if anything, Knight has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Reckridge keeps control of the position easily here as Knight tries to buck him off.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Reckridge's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Reckridge connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Knight to escape the position.
Reckridge lands a shot to the body.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Reckridge is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Knight has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knight trying to get back to his feet but Reckridge is in full control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azazel Reckridge dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Azazel Reckridge's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Reckridge throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice takedown defense from Knight. No joy for Reckridge on that attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Reckridge looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knight leaves Reckridge with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Knight. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knight looks to land a combination. Reckridge sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Reckridge tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knight gets caught flat footed, as Reckridge shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Reckridge looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Reckridge trying to control the position from guard on top but Knight is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Knight wants to stand up but Reckridge is controlling him.

Reckridge stands up and waves to Knight to follow him.
Reckridge throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Reckridge throws a lazy uppercut
and Knight counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Reckridge doesn't manage to clinch there - Knight circles away.
Reckridge tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Knight manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Knight throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Reckridge dives in and grabs Knight's left leg, looking for a takedown. Knight pushes down on Reckridge's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azazel Reckridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Azazel Reckridge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reckridge tries for a takedown but Knight sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Reckridge shoots in but no luck this time.
Knight throws a one two combo.
Reckridge tries for a takedown but Knight circles away easily
and Knight counters with a one-two to the body.
Knight moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sloppy strikes from Knight. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reckridge tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knight paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knight shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Reckridge as he jumps to the side.
Knight looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Azazel Reckridge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reckridge lands a nice looking body shot.
Knight circles away from the clinch attempt.
A combination from Knight does no damage.
Reckridge shoots for a double leg takedown but Knight sprawls well. He's pushed Reckridge's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Knight showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Azazel Reckridge's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Reckridge shoots for a takedown but Knight saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Reckridge shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Reckridge was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Reckridge pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Azazel Reckridge overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reckridge lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Knight hang on?
Reckridge with the ground and pound from mount.
Reckridge has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Knight trying desperately to get to his feet.
Reckridge wants to control the pace but Knight is squirming around nicely.
Reckridge takes Knight's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Knight is in trouble.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight tries to roll but Reckridge sticks to his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knight trying to get back to his feet but Reckridge is in full control for now.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Reckridge's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Reckridge biding his time, looking for the opening.

Knight is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Reckridge gets his way!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Knight trying to get back to his feet but Reckridge is in full control for now.
Reckridge looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

Reckridge is looking for the choke from the back position but Knight is controlling his hands well.
Knight is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Knight is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Reckridge is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Reckridge trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Knight wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reckridge is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Knight looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Knight trying to control but not successfully.
Reckridge trying to control.
Knight is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Reckridge biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Knight is taking damage to the body and head.
Knight controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Knight really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reckridge. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Reckridge's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Knight wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knight trying to control the hands but Reckridge won't let him.
Knight prevents Reckridge from getting a body triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Azazel Reckridge showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Reckridge has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azazel Reckridge!